Horsham took the lead early in the game, when they ran the ball down the blind side for an unconverted try.

After a period of sustained Chichester pressure, the Horsham pack gave away a penalty, which skipper Henry Anscombe calmly converted.

The visitors soon began to dominate their opponents.

Centre Pete Hopkins took the ball, at speed, on the scissor switch, to burst through the Horsham defence and score.

Horsham were fortunate to regain the lead, when they took a tap penalty just two metres from the Chichester try line, while the referee had his back turned to speak to the defenders.

The Chichester players responded in the best possible way, with Hopkins scoring his second try, which Anscombe duly converted.

Late in the second half, Chichester wrapped up the game when their forwards won clean lineout ball, which was spun along the back line to wing Tom Weeks, who touched down in the corner.

Chichester celebrated their victory by holding aloft the Heineken Cup, which the holders Wasps had brought along to Horsham RFC that day.

Chichester: Dinan, Tucker, Bulpett, Bowman, Menage, Howari, Wallace, Grace, Bruce, Anscombe, Weeks, Hopkins, Wild, Slatter, Jackson.

* Chichester's first team are back in London three south action this weekend when they entertain Lordswood at Oaklands Park (3pm).